Chateau Yquem 2004 - Sauternes Premier Grand Cru Classe

Deemed the world's greatest white wine, the Château d'Yquem is located on a small hill and benefits from a micro-climate and exceptional soil. The vineyard encompasses no less than 150 plots of different soil, and is pampered throughout the year, with each individual vine undergoing an average of 50 different annual treatments. The selection process in Yquem is particularly stringent, with a local saying holding that a single vine makes a single glass of wine. Harvesting is carried out a minimum of four different times (seven in 1997!) in order to ensure the grapes harvested have reached perfect maturity and have been affected by noble rot. Please note, the estate also produces a dry white called Y d'Yquem from grapes that are free from noble rot. In some years, the entire harvest is de-classified (no Yquem production in 1910, 1915, 1930, 1951, 1952, 1964, 1972, 1974, 1992). The wine is aged for up to 42 months in new barrels. This marvellous wine unfurls aromas of peach, pineapple, coconut, nutmeg and cinnamon underpinned by nuances of toast, caramel and vanilla from the new oak. Boasting extraordinary richness and concentration, Yquem wines have incredible ageing potential. ""Guitry once said that the silence that follows Mozart is still Mozart. I say that the moments that follow a sip of Yquem are still Yquem."" (Frédéric Dard).

Shunned by critics at its premiere release in 2004 proves yet today a beautiful quality for great red wines. June, fine and dry, is conducive to rapid flowering, with minimal lag between varieties. The relatively mild weather continues in July, but considerably worse from August 15, with insufficient sunshine and excessive rainfall. The likelihood of a late and too abundant vintage worried the profession but like 2002, a magnificent first half of September caused a dramatic turnaround. Result: the 2004 grandeur is primarily due to the extraordinary regularity of its quality. No bank takes precedence over the other; All varieties are successful, including Petit Verdot, exceptional, brought up to 10% in some great wines. Pruned to aging, 2004 have tasty red fruit notes and delicate wood, a full body, silky tannins and a remarkable concentration. If sweet benefited from excellent conditions for ripening, they appear not to match the incredible precedent in 2003. Finally, the success of the great dry white is due to more careful work of some producers that fabulous September.